‖draai, noun
/draɪ/
- Forms:
- Formerly also draij.
- Origin:
- Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch.
1.
a. An avoidance or circumlocution.
1786 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. II. 96When..any thing remarkable happens, a Hottentot endeavours to avoid, if he can, mentioning it for some days, and when at length he does speak of it, it is with a kind of circumlocution, or, as the colonists call it, with a draij, a sort of twist or winding.
b. A twist or turn.
1870 in A.M.L. Robinson Sel. Articles from Cape Monthly Mag. (1978) 120The road was travelled and worn, until nothing seemed left but an axle-breaking track of sand and boulders. Adventurous people had made ‘draais’ amongst the grass and bushes.
1970 C.B. Wood Informant, Johannesburg, GautengLet’s take a ‘draai’ (turn) around the block.
c. figurative In the intrans. v. phr. to make a draai, to pay a visit, to drop in. Also in dim. form draaitjie [see -ie].
1970 Informant, Pietersburg (now Polokwane)Let’s go make a draaitjie at Erna’s house — visit.
1993 H. Thompson Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)I’ve just finished your VAT [return] — can you please make a draai and come and sign it?
An avoidance or circumlocution.
A twist or turn.
In the intrans. v. phr. to make a draai,to pay a visit, to drop in. Also in dim. form draaitjie [see -ie].
Elliptical for tickey-draai sense 2.
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